I was cycling home this week. Finally it was a bit warmer and we had some sunshine. I was thinking about which watch to feature this week and somehow I thought about this watch. Probably a bit early, as this is a nice summer watch. So what should I write about this model. Unconsciously, I found myself singing the above song, a variation of the song by Stephen McCurdy, from the motion picture “Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence”. I saw that movie in 1983 in Paris, where it was shown under the title “Furyo”.

So, let’s get on topic now. This watch model was a very popular watch in the late 90’s. I assume it was released in spring 1997. No less than 6 color variation were released in Europe and the US. I’m sure this watch was released in Asia. This particular version is called "Glider" by Casio Germany. The DW-003S G-Lide is the overseas variation of the Japanese DW-003XS of the X-treme series. Until 2000 the name X-treme was used for the models that were released outside Japan as G-lide. A possible explanation for this is that the pronunciation of “glide” is not easy for Japanese people. You can see this coming back in the product description of G-lide models. Behind the series name G-Lide, between parentheses you’ll see the name in Japanese, Gライド. It translates back to “G Reid”.

Maybe you also recognize this model also from the MTV stunt series “Jackass”, where one of the stuntmen wore a DW-003 in red in the beginning. Not a bad choice I think, if you see what those guys did.

I mostly remember seeing these models at our beach. This watch is made for summer and water sports. We only have a small spot for wave surfing on the north shore of our island, but you can see kite surfing and windsurfing a lot along the other beaches. Specially the German water sport tourists wore G-Shocks in the late ‘90s and a lot of them were these DW-003S models. Although 6 color variations were released, you mainly saw the green, this pale yellow and the red version, so I assume these were also the most popular colors at that time. For quite a long time these G-Shocks were pretty easy to find. I have two of these pale yellow, the red and the green. About 6 years ago an ex-student of me asked to look out for this model, which I found fairly cheap in new condition. The beginning of the ‘00s was a perfect time to search for cheap new or almost new G-Shocks, specially in Germany.

The design of this watch is entirely focused on water sports. On both ends of the case are strap adaptors, while the strap itself is lead through these adapters. This construction allows space between the strap and the back of the watch, so water might fast evaporate when you come out of the sea, lake or swimming pool. Extra protection on the back, as found an all DW-00X (Nexax or Capsule Tough) models, provides extra protection from impact and a screen protector (“bull bars”) gives extra protection for the crystal. I do not have experience with surfboards, but in case of an accidental collision in the waves, you and your G-Shock are pretty good protected. An extra advantage of the two strap adapters is, that if by force one of the spring bars is torn out, the case still hanging on the other strap adapter. With some luck, a new spring bar is all you need to repair your watch.

The watch is equipped with the 1647 module, which does not particular excel in features. Timekeeping, a 60 minute Countdown Timer, a 24 hour Stopwatch and a simple daily Alarm. That’s all there is on board.

The Countdown Timer is actually a “Surftimer”, with a different set-up and operation from what we are used from Casio. The Countdown Timer can be set in one minute increments by pushing the upper right button. By press and holding that button, you can scroll fast through the minutes. You start and stop with the fifth light button, while the bottom right button acts as a light button. The Countdown Timer has a progression beeper, which inform you the last 5 minutes before the Countdown is finished every minute. Unusual is that this progression beeper cannot be turned on or off. It’s just there.

Also the Stopwatch uses the light button to start and stop timing. The upper right button can be used to view Split Time when the Stopwatch is running, or as a reset button when the Stopwatch function has stopped.

Nice extra on this watch is that you can view the time in Countdown mode and Alarm mode. Unfortunately, the Stopwatch uses the upper digits to display the hours. In the ‘90s the Auto Illuminator function must have been great too, but it’s also a battery drainer. You activate the Auto Illuminator by press and holding the bottom button for 2 or 3 seconds. When the Auto Illuminator is activated and not manually deactivated, it will turn itself off after 3 hours, to save the battery.

I pretty much love my DW-003S, but I do not often wear it, preferred during the summer time. The jelly straps beg for the sunlight to play with it. Nowadays you won’t find these models not that easy anymore in good condition. The jelly straps have one drawback. Sunlight (specially UV), sweat and salt water cause the strap to yellow and look dirty over time. From time to time you can find a used one on eBay. The prices for these models are often very reasonable. Well, 10 years ago you might have paid between €20 and €40 for these models, for a mint one today you might expect probably double. A small price for nice looker on the beach.

6 comments:

It's actually not so surprising for you to think of a G-Lide this time of year.:) CASIO usually releases their summer G-Lides in April/May. They just released 2 new color variations of the GLX-150 for April 2013. That's definitely a 1997 DW-003 there but it looks like that particular color variation was not sold in Japan. Brand new thing that year was the Auto Light Switch feature. Thanks for another nice look back!

Thanks for your comment. I am still not pretty sure it was also released in 1997, but I have proof it was part of the Summer 1998 USA collection and part of the Summer 1999 German (European) collection. Probably these DW-003S models were sold from 1997 until around 2000.

I knew the Auto Light Switch was introduced around that time, but I didn't realize this was the first model.

This one was released in the summer of 1998. However there was a similar looking piece in the form of DW-9000S-9V released in the summer of 1997. Strangely the DW-9000 from 1997 had the G-Lide text on the strap adapter but not the 1998 DW-003S, very strange! I prefered the look of the DW-003s over the DW-9000 because of the silver part on the bezel, my fave was the red jelly though but this one is quite nice too.

Nice too see you finally have some nice weather there. Here in Sweden we have sunny too but still cold, this winter is very long!

This one was released in the summer of 1998. However there was a similar looking piece in the form of DW-9000S-9V released in the summer of 1997. Strangely the DW-9000 from 1997 had the G-Lide text on the strap adapter but not the 1998 DW-003S, very strange! I prefered the look of the DW-003s over the DW-9000 because of the silver part on the bezel, my fave was the red jelly though but this one is quite nice too.

Nice too see you finally have some nice weather there. Here in Sweden we have sunny too but still cold, this winter is very long!

I'm writing in 2017 and today you should review the G-Shock DW-003XS G-lide quotation. This G-Shock actually is absolutely rare (quite impossible to find one on good conditions). Its fantastic design makes it an evergreen , but the exposure to sunlight requires careful use of it. Hight risk of damaging the bright colors and the trasparences that characterize it. Finding beautiful and complete specimens like what you show in your blog is absolutely rare. Watch strap and bezels replacemente are impossible to find ! I agree with you that mint color is considerably the most beautiful and quoted. I would not give up my G-Shock DW-003 XS G-lide in good condition even at $ 500! Every time I put it in the drawer I clean it with a cloth and wrap it to keep it at the right temperature. This G-lide is a joy for the eyes. Songhij "G-lider" from Italy .

Welcome to 50 Gs

I'm Sjors and you might know me from my G-Peopleland website. I started this weblog in 2008, together with Greg from Canada. My initial goal was to write about 50 G-Shock models in one year. Meanwhile we are in the seventh series of 50 G-Shock Articles. I write mostly all the articles, but I also invite guest authors.

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